The Latvian daina is far more than a folk song. This tradition stretches back over a millennium, with some examples preserving linguistic forms long lost in modern Latvian. These songs are credited with recording Latvia’s prehistory and sustaining its culture through centuries of foreign rule. Dainas were central to the Latvian National Awakening, which eventually […]

Many of Latvia’s most successful modern films explore expressly Latvian themes, placing the unique cultural, historical, and social experiences of the Latvian people on screen. These films often explore topics such as Latvia’s difficult past of war and occupation, telling the stories of Latvia’s national heroes, or exploring the complexities of Latvia’s national identity. Below […]

Auļi is a modern Latvian folk group consisting of six bagpipers, three drummers, and one electric cellist. Founded in 2003, they have come to call their particular style “ethno trance” – mixing powerful and ancient instrumental patterns with influences from house, rock, and world music. They say that they find the most inspiration from nature […]

The Cat’s Windmill (Kaķīša dzirnavas) is a Latvian short animated film. It is based on the short story/fairy tale of the same name, written by Kārlis Skalbe, a Latvian writer who lived and wrote in Latvia in the years of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Skalbe was also a Latvian nationalist and revolutionary, and left Latvia […]

Defenders of Riga (Rigas sargi) is a 2007 Latvian drama film. Latvia submitted it to the 2007 Academy Awards for consideration for Best Foreign Language Film, but it was not nominated. The film is based on the book Clock in Reverse (Pulkstenis ar atpakaļgaitu) by Andris Kolbergs, who also contributed to the screenplay. The film […]

Aminata Savadogo (she often goes by just Aminata) is a Latvian contemporary singer. Her music is influenced by her multiethnic roots—Russia, Latvia, and Burkina Faso—and displays a sound refreshing and unusual in today’s Latvia. She sings mostly in English, sometimes in Russian, and rarely in Latvian. According to her official biography, “her strong and unique […]

Outbreak of Fire (UgunsGrēks) is a Latvian TV show that has been airing since 2009. It’s the spinoff or follow-up to another popular Latvian TV series, Neprāta cena, which can be translated as “the cost of frenzy” or “the price of insanity.” That one aired from 2002 to 2006. Conflagration is currently considered one of the most popular […]

Aija Andrejeva is a popular contemporary Latvian singer. Also known by her stage name, Aisha, she is mostly a pop singer, and most of her music is in Latvian. According to her website, “Aija has been called a little bomb—her energy, cheerfulness and lightness of spirit on the stage hypnotizes and literally takes everybody’s breath […]